Last fall, the head of the Mormon church's Relief Society delivered a treatise on motherhood that equated nurturing with keeping a tidy house. Women in poor countries who dress their daughters in clean, ironed dresses, the speaker said, honor a sacred covenant.
Julie B. Beck's exhortation at the church's General Conference that Mormon women strive to be "the best homemakers in the world" did not go unanswered. More than 250 women signed an online rebuttal.
I didn't even know this talk was controversial until my visiting teacher told me a few months ago. I was so comforted by it, so inspired and edified, I had no idea it could even cause offense! I have to admit I am the talk's target audience—a stay at home mother who has borne many children and who is doing my darnedest to raise them in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Perhaps this is why it didn't rub me the wrong way; it felt like pure, unadulterated truth to me, but one's own life usually does I suppose.
Still the article on MSN News today has rubbed me the wrong way.
...few expect major changes along the lines of opening the Mormon priesthood—an office granted only to Mormon men—to women.
Who is it that keeps gnawing on this old bone? Which sister in the church actually wants the priesthood? And why?
It seems evident to me that the "sisters" who bring this point up repeatedly are not active in the church. Why?
They don't understand the priesthood. Seriously. When has the priesthood ever been of benefit to the holder? What priesthood brother has ever gained something by having the priesthood? None. Not a single one. The priesthood is used entirely, entirely, to benefit others. A priesthood holder can't perform his own ordinances or give himself blessings. Every priesthoody thing he does is for the benefit of others.
Where does this get fun? Why is this something to envy and covet? I'm not bashing service, I want you to understand; but I have plenty of opportunities to serve (two funerals and a baby in the ward this week, two cakes and making phone assignments for the dinners) without adding the priesthood on top of that.
As for holding positions of "power" or authority: everyone knows that the proud man, the one who wants to be bishop or stake president or prophet, the one who really wants to run the church "right" (according to his own interpretation), is never the one who is called. Why? Because God issues the callings (bulletin: not the bishop!) and God sees inside their hearts and knows they aren't bishop/stake president/prophet material.
So all you get from holding the priesthood is the opportunity to do as God wills unto others. A blessing, sure, but one that we covet? Is it really any different than what we Relief Society sisters do in our own organization?
If I correctly assume that those who always are vocal about females and priesthood aren't active participants in the church, they wouldn't be eligible for the priesthood and leadership positions in any case. The ordination to exercise the priesthood and to serve the church in official capacities comes from faithful adherence to the tenets of the gospel, not outspoken rebellion.
Now, if only MSNBC would give me a forum so I could put this to rest once and for all! ;D
2 comments:
Hi Alyson, I LOVED Sister Beck's talk and learned soon after about all of the women who were angry about it. I didn't know there was a petition, but beecause of a comment on our blog from one of our friends I realized how pointed some people thought it was. So mnay of the things she talked about I feel I could do so much better in, to me I felt validated in the course I have chosen, but also felt the nudge to improve. Just another great reminder that the church teaches the ideal not the exception.
Wow! I had no idea. After reading this I read the talk twice to make sure. And Sister Beck NEVER mentions people ironing their dress for church at all, least of all poor people. That was pulled out of someone's odd interpretation of this talk. I, too, felt extremely inspired by this talk. In fact this talk touched me more deeply than any in this entire conference. I just gave a talk on it in sacrament meeting a couple weeks ago.
These people who have issues with it obviously feel guilty for something. God bless Sister Beck and all the others who speak for HIM. And God bless those who listen with a humble heart and try to improve their lives instead of "kicking against the pricks".
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